“There are some Awami League leaders in Noakhali who say that the fort of the BNP has been demolished under the leadership of such and such leader. If there is a fair election, our MPs will not be able to find a door to escape except for three or four leaders in greater Noakhali. This is the truth. The truth must be spoken. I dare to speak the truth.”
A video of Abdul Quader Mirza, younger brother of Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader making the remark at a recent program in Noakhali went viral on social media.
Abdul Quader Mirza pointed to some party leaders and said, “People of Noakhali say that Sheikh Hasina’s popularity has increased. This is true. But your popularity has not increased. You are taking away party votes every day. It is not a matter of holding a big public meeting or procession with money. If you give me money, I will be able to gather a lot of people or I will leave politics.”
Abdul Quader Mirza is contesting for the post of mayor of Basurhat municipality of Noakhali's Companiganj upazila in the second phase of municipal elections to be held on January 16 as the Awami League candidate with the boat symbol.
His comments came while he was announcing his manifesto at Basurhat Pourbhaban premises of Companiganj in Noakhali on December 31. He is the vice president of the proposed committee of Noakhali district Awami League.
Abdul Quader Mirza said in his speech said there were no leaders equal to Obaidul Quader, Moudud Saheb (BNP's Moudud Ahmed), and Abu Naser Saheb (Jamaat's) in greater Noakhali.
Without naming anyone, Abdul Quader said, “Those who commit murder in broad daylight and those who loot crores are now leaders.”
Such remarks have earned Abdul Quader much criticism from his party leaders and activists all around the country.
Clarifying his comments, Abdul Quader, in a press release issued on Tuesday, said that the media had intentionally created confusion by releasing only a part of his whole speech.
In the press release, he said he had brought up current issues of corruption within the party while expressing his wish for a free and fair municipal election on January 16.
“In my speech, I also mentioned the unprecedented development the country has seen under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina in the last one decade. But, some media outlets have published only a part of my speech for the purpose of creating confusion. I only talked about the irregularities in the regional politics of Noakhali. I did not make any statement on national (political) issues.”